South Africa 2010 World Cup

At this point in time I would love to dust off my backpack and spend the days leading up to the World Cup travelling around South Africa. But the next few days are vital to how much more this project can achieve. We have many targets, such as increasing the media coverage of 'The Shirt 2010' from its current estimated figure of 280 million to over 1 billion people before the end of the World Cup. Another goal is for all 32 teams participating at the finals to donate shirts signed by every member of their World Cup squads.

I begin the process of contacting all 32 teams on saturday. It is not easy contacting the likes of England and Spain. These are not only national football teams; they are also international brands. Everybody wants a piece of the big international teams and, consequently, it can be rather problematic getting your message to and then convincing the decision makers within the national federations to support you.

We received a signed South Africa national team shirt last year. Only 31 more teams to go. After several hours of chasing the national teams I get my first 'World CUp 32' result when a representative from Serbia gets in contact to tell me they would love to contribute a shirt signed by all its players. A big shout of thanks therefore goes to Serbia for being the first national team (other than the hosts) to support the refugees and the work of the UNHCR.Two down, 30 to go...

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Photos, stories, news and blogs from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, as well as 'the Shirt 2010' and 'More Than a Game' projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and Lesotho